Responses to a print media campaign promoting healthier beverage choices on a college campus

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the efficacy of a public health print media campaign to impact sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among the population at a small, Northeastern women’s college. A repeated measures design indicated age was a predictor of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (p < .05). Reactions to the campaign underscore the necessity to utilize alternative marketing methods, and to consider the unique attributes and sensitivities of this population. These results set the stage for future research on best practices for designing and implementing an educational initiative on a college campus concerning the negative health consequences of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.

KEYWORDS:

• College
• obesity
• sugar sweetened beverages
• weight gain
• young adults

Acknowledgment

We would like to acknowledge Shelley Strowman for her help with data and statistics.